“It was 1970, and America was scarred by racial violence. Civil rights leaders had been gunned down in the streets, and communities across the nation were smarting from race riots. My parents’ own state, Indiana, had once been a stronghold… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
In California, Jim Jones even staged a shooting of himself. The lesson of this was two-fold. One, that he was a god - he could heal himself. He had these magic powers. A large segment of his congregation came from… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
My parents subscribed to both Time and Newsweek and in 1978, I remember the covers of both that December were of the bodies in the jungle. The fact that many of the people who drank the cyanide - as well as Jim Jones himself - were originally from Indiana, that stayed with me. I wanted to know why they did… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share
I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. I felt tarnished by tragedy, between my brother's death and Escuela Caribe, and everyone else seemed so carefree and happy and praising God. I couldn't stand happy people for a long time, and was plagued by chronic migraines and stomach aches. I'd say between age thirteen and twenty-three… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share
Escuela Caribe preyed upon parents' fears of secular culture to recruit students. Parents could send their kids to a place where they'd be sheltered… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jonestown was supposed to be a great socialist experiment, a place where all the evil "isms" would be eradicated: racism, sexism, elitism. This appealed… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jim Jones used highly-edited videos and photos of Jonestown, showing what a supposed Eden it was. People were interviewed smiling and working in the fields, telling other church members to hurry down and join them. These interviews were staged; the people were told exactly what to say. Truth is, Jonestown never even produced enough food to feed everyone, and people… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share
I only wish my brother David had survived to experience Berkeley as well. No one would flinch here if we were to walk down… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
“Seems we can never just be brother and sister like in other families. Our whole lives, people have felt an urge to make up… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
That's why I think it's important to revisit the story of Jonestown. I hope readers come away with a greater compassion for Jim Jones's… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
In my view, the problem with many conservative Christian parents is that they won't allow their children to have a different worldview from their… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jim Jones wanted his people to believe the establishment was trying to kill him because whites were threatened by his message of racial equality.… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
